# Oilfield and mining chemicals: Trading

How national oil companies tender for drilling chemicals

Source page: https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/oilfield_chemicals/trading/

What this tab covers How it is bought and sold: buyers and sellers, price benchmarks and who publishes them, exchanges, contract types, traders, how Indian buyers price it, recent price points, and good sources to follow.

#### Who buys, and where

- From integrated service companies under well or field contracts
- From specialists such as Dorf Ketal, Clariant and Nouryon for production and refinery chemicals
- Barite from India, China and Morocco through grinders

#### Who sells, and from where

- National oil companies (ONGC, Oil India, Saudi Aramco, ADNOC) by tender
- International and independent operators under master service agreements
- Mining companies for reagents

#### Price benchmarks

| Benchmark | Publisher | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| **none for finished chemicals; barite and Brent are input and activity benchmarks** | USGS; ICE Brent | annual unit value; futures |

#### Contract types

- Master service agreements with call-off pricing
- National oil company tenders with fixed unit rates for 2-3 years
- Performance-based chemical management contracts priced per barrel treated (indicative)

#### Traders and distributors

- Barite traders and grinders; little merchant trade in finished chemicals

#### How Indian buyers price it

- ONGC and Oil India tender drilling fluid and production chemical services with fixed rates (indicative)
- Indian barite is sold by APMDC through tenders by grade (A at least 4.2 SG; B at least 4.1) (USGS Minerals Yearbook via barite tile)
- Guar gum is priced on NCDEX futures and spot markets in Rajasthan (indicative)

#### Recent price points

| Date | Price | Basis | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | **$210/t ground barite** | US ex-works unit value | USGS MCS 2026 via barite tile |
| Sep 2026 | **$116.8/bbl Brent (activity driver)** | monthly average | World Bank via crude oil tile |

#### Good sources to follow
[World Oil](https://worldoil.com/)freemium newsletter · Gulf Energy Information

Upstream service company and technology news
[Oil & Gas 360](https://www.oilandgas360.com/)free newsletter · Oil & Gas 360

Oilfield service company news and deals
[USGS Barite statistics](https://www.usgs.gov/centers/national-minerals-information-center/mineral-commodity-summaries)free research site · US Geological Survey

Barite supply, prices and drilling demand
[Indian Chemical News](https://www.indianchemicalnews.com)free newsletter · Indian Chemical News

Indian chemical companies including oilfield suppliers

## Other sections

- [Summary](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/oilfield_chemicals/index.md)
- [Overview](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/oilfield_chemicals/overview/index.md)
- [Correlation](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/oilfield_chemicals/correlation/index.md)
- [Production route](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/oilfield_chemicals/routes/index.md)
- [Production](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/oilfield_chemicals/production/index.md)
- [Feedstocks](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/oilfield_chemicals/feedstocks/index.md)
- [Cycles](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/oilfield_chemicals/cycles/index.md)
- [Movement](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/oilfield_chemicals/movement/index.md)
- [Regulation](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/oilfield_chemicals/regulation/index.md)
- [Characteristics](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/oilfield_chemicals/characteristics/index.md)
- [Emissions](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/oilfield_chemicals/emissions/index.md)
- [Relationships](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/oilfield_chemicals/links/index.md)